Dakota Johnson Just Became The Ultimate Muse For The Mob Wives Aesthetic

It's only the first month of 2024, but there's already several new aesthetics to keep up with on TikTok. 'Eclectic grandpa' - the trend for dressing like a (very stylish) octogenarian that got the green light from Depop, who predicted that it would be this year's move-on from coastal grandmother - is happening. But if you're not into corduroy trousers, sweater vests and pocket squares, there's another look that might turn your head because it's pretty much the exact opposite: the mob wives aesthetic.

With poster women including The Sopranos' Adriana Le Cerva, Carmela Soprano and Griselda Blanco, it couldn't be more of a departure from the 'clean girl' aesthetic that has been dominating social media (along with motivational posts about sticking to Dry January). Because if the hallmarks of the latter are no make-up make-up and a slavish devotion to quietly luxurious brands like The Row, the mob wives aesthetic is the exact opposite, with a 'more is more' approach to getting dressed that's a fever dream of animal print, faux-fur coats, gold jewellery and designer handbags (the bigger the logo, the better, naturally).

Dakota Johnson is an early adopter of the aesthetic. The actor was this weekend's host of Saturday Night Live - and was photographed leaving the after-party wearing a vintage beaded dress by Alaïa, which she accessorised with a faux-fur shrug and fabulously kohl-rimmed eyes. (For her opening monologue, she wore another look - a plunging-to-the-navel jumpsuit by Tom Ford - that would also pass muster among mob wife acolytes.)

As well as A-listers, Depop is already reporting that the mob wives aesthetic is having an impact on second-hand shoppers, with searches for leopard print (up 213%), faux-fur coats (up 18%) and gold hoop earrings (up 70%) all soaring month-on-month.

The Sopranos women are obviously on the mood board, Carmela's perma-blow-dry is in prime position, as is Amanda Kinsella, Kin's wannabe-matriarch who manages to wrap everyone around her tastefully manicured figure by the explosive finale episode. The Italian mega houses - your Versaces, your Guccis - are the bread-and-butter brands for the mob wives, but the good news if you don't have a safe full of freshly laundered bank notes is that it's a surprisingly easy aesthetic to pull off with the clothes you already have in your wardrobe. The trick is in the styling.

So instead of wearing your leather trousers with a lo-fi cashmere jumper, try dialling things up a notch (or five) with a skin-tight bodysuit, a faux-fur coat and lashings of chain-link necklaces. TikToker @sarah.altintas' 'mob wife' aesthetic explainer, where she breaks down the look into six key tenets (faux-fur, red nails, animal print, leather boots, black outfits and gold jewellery) - already has 314,000 views. And the caption of said video says it all: 'Clean girl is out.'

So there you have it. All you need to do now is make a nail appointment (and master a recipe for baked ziti) and you're good to go.

SHOP: How To Achieve The Mob Wives Aesthetic

Natalie Hammond is Grazia’s Senior Fashion News Editor. She loves winter, hates summer and can often be found writing about the weather (and what on earth to wear).